Page 39 of Battle of the Exes

I’m hoping the event achieved its intended goal. Either way, I’ve made a crucial decision. Tomorrow, I’ll let Jasper know this was his swan song. At least with me as his publicist. I’ll have to hustle to make up the income I’ll lose, but that’s a problem for another day.

No more wine—or whine—runs. No more hoping he keeps his act together.

The sun is slowly setting, the air turning cooler. I find Rue helping Gary and Lulu pack up their tent. Nearby, Ivy and Mae are boxing remaining pastries. They all look exhausted and exhilarated.

“Bonfire at my place,” I say. “You all earned it.”

Gary pats me on the back while Rue gives me a grateful smile. Lulu is texting someone, mostly tuned out. Mae grins. “See you there.”

Ivy doesn’t say anything, just nods.

It’s enough.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Ivy

The bonfire crackles and I tug my cardigan tighter around my shoulders, mostly for something to do with my hands, because the fire is plenty warm. It’s the company I wasn’t prepared for.

Sitting in Beau’s backyard which is more like a small park, I glance at the empty camp chairs intended for my sister, Lulu, Gary, and Mae. Rue texted within minutes of my arrival, Mae shortly after, each with their own half-baked excuse.

Rue wrote,Sorry, we can’t make it. Too tired.

Like it’s perfectly normal to bail at the last minute and leave me sitting here withhim.

We had all agreed to meet here after the festival to celebrate its success. What it will mean for The Silver Quill is still unclear but we hit it out of the park. As ateam. Which apparently has now conveniently disbanded.

Rue is not the conniving sort but I wouldn’t put it past Mae. It’s pretty clear this was a set-up.

I allow myself a sidelong glance at Beau. Publicist. Smooth-talker. Former heart-wrecker.

He leans back, way too relaxed, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his too-handsome mouth. He’s still got that easy way about him, just worn-in now. It has my heart picking up speed.

Rusty trudges over to his owner, lying at his feet. “Guess we scared them off with all our bickering.”

“Do you want me to leave?” I ask, though the words come out hollow. Because I don’t want to go.

He raises an eyebrow. His voice comes out low and gruff. “No.”

Pulse racing, I skewer a marshmallow with unnecessary force. I’m as nervous as a schoolgirl.

“Perhaps we should accept that fate wants us here, alone, by firelight, with snacks.”

He sounds amused but I’m not certain. As silence settles, some unseen force pulls at me and I look at him. Really look at him. Shadows flicker across his features. It’s mesmerizing, making the years melt away.

He feels it too. I see it in the way his posture stills, in the way his eyes find mine and don’t flinch. We used to be everything to each other. And even now, with everything in between, we still know how to speak in silence.

Without warning, I feel my eyes water, the emotions stirring within me. As if reading my mind, Beau turnssolemn, both of us sensing the weight of everything we never got to be.

I blink hard and hand him a toasted marshmallow before I say something I can’t take back.

I returned to Silver Pine to protect the bookstore, not to get dragged back into whatever this unresolved thing is between us. And I certainly didn’t expect to be alone under a starry sky with the man who once held my whole heart and might still be holding the part I never got back.

Yet in this moment, deep in my soul I know if I keep looking at him, I might not ever want to leave.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Beau

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